Varick Town Board January 4, 2011 The regular meeting of the Varick Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Robert Hayssen at 7:00 p.m. Present at this meeting were Council members, Richard Peterson, Peter McDonald, John Saeli, and Kathy Russo, Town Clerk, Donna Karlsen, Attorney for the Town, John Sipos, Bookkeeper, Carol Sipos, Highway Superintendent, Richard McCulloch. Also present were Rob Bauman, Larry Colton and Jim Bromka. Privilege of the Floor: Larry Colton questioned the board as to when Water District No. 3 will be up and running and ready for connections. Mr. Hayssen informed him that the town is still waiting for final approval from DEC and the flush the line and hydrants again. Once this is completed, a letter will be sent to the residents providing rules and regulations for connection and connection fees. Seneca Lake Water District: John Yells still has a few meters which need to be changed on East Lake Road and the newly purchased master meter that was received the end of November still needs to be installed by the Village of Waterloo. Mr. Bromka stated that this should be installed in January with an inspection completed. Mrs. Karlsen will contact Vellano Brothers, Inc regarding the incorrect hydrant markers that were sent for the second time. Varick Water District No. 1: After further inspection of the current meters being used in this district it was decided that all the meters should be replaced. Rob Bauman reported that there are 51 meters installed out of 60 and five curb stops that are broken which require the attention of a contractor with a backhoe. Stainless steel replacement rods should be used with the new curb stops. A 1 meter has been ordered with the bill for this meter being submitted to the Town of Romulus by Mr. McDonald for payment. The cost of the new meters will be discussed with the Town of Romulus as well. The transponders which were originally purchased and are no longer being used will be sold to Water District No. 3 for their use. Mr. Bauman reported that Dell Lerch is repairing a floor and has denied him entry to the residence until the floor has been completed. Mr. McDonald reported that his son Michael had a backhoe and $1,000,000 liability insurance and would be willing to do the work required to replace the curb stops. It was suggested that at least three contractors be asked to submit an estimate for this work and Conley, Keefer, and Nicholson Construction along with the County were recommended contractors to contact as they all currently have Certificate of Liability Insurance filed with the town. Mr. Hayssen suggested in order to be cost effective, the contractor who is hired should be knowledgeable on digging up and installing curb stops and willing to climb on and off the equipment so that additional manpower is not required. A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried to direct Rob Bauman to contact at least three contractors along with the county to get a price on
repairing the curb stops in Water District No. 1 and require that a $1,000,000 Certificate of Liability be filed with the town listing the Town as Certificate Holder. At the year end meeting, when Mr. Bauman submitted a voucher for the work he had completed to that date for the installation of meters, it was unclear whether he was to be an employee of the town or an independent contractor. Mr. Peterson expressed his opinion that if Mr. Bauman is an employee of the town doing the same work that John Yells is hired to do; he should receive the same rate of pay, which is $15 an hour. Because there wasn t a full board at the end of the year meeting and no rate of pay had been set by the board prior to Mr. Bauman s hiring, the vouchers were pulled and tabled till the first of the year meeting when a full board was present. Mr. Saeli and Mr. Peterson also noted that there are a lot of people out of work, which is resulting in lower hourly pay rates. Mr. McDonald reported that he was given direction by this board at the December 7 meeting to resolve the issue regarding the installation of meters. After speaking with Butch Carroll who was agreeable to becoming a consultant on this job, he hired Rob Bauman at $19 an hour to complete the necessary work. Mr. Bauman was not in favor at this time of becoming a town employee. Mr. Bauman was informed that if he wasn t a town employee he would be required to submit a $1,000,000 Certificate of Insurance, due to the nature of the work he was doing. Mr. Bauman reported that he currently did not carry any liability insurance. A motion by Kathy Russo, seconded by Peter McDonald and so carried to pay Rob Bauman $19 an hour for the current work he is doing irregardless if he decides to become a town employee or an independent contractor. Roll Call: Robert Hayssen yes Peter McDonald yes John Saeli yes Kathy Russo yes Richard Peterson abstained So Carried After further discussion of this matter, it was determined that salaries should be set by the board prior to any hiring and Mr. Bauman will let the bookkeeper know within the next 24 hours if he will become an employee of the town or will be an independent contractor filing a Certificate of Liability. It was reported that it is illegal for Fire Departments to pull water from fire hydrants at no cost and this issue will be addressed with the local departments. Mr. Bromka noted that Yaws Environmental was completing the bacteriological testing for this district with Seneca County Water District paying their service bills. Two leaks that were found have been repaired
Water District No. 3: Jim Bromka discussed his concern with the water pressure in some areas of this line and pressure testing of the hydrants. He also reported that the entire line needs to be chlorinated. Mr. Bromka also noted that he did not do any pressure testing of the line that was installed around Thanksgiving which was run to Uncle Dukes. Mr. Hayssen will be discussing a water maintenance contract with the Village of Waterloo to include the services of a Certified Distribution Operator. Mrs. Karlsen reported that Bradley Litzenberger expressed concern over damage to his drain line by Syracuse Constructors when they installed the water main. Mr. Litzenberger met with Butch Carroll right before Christmas who recognized the problem and as the water is backing up into Mr. Litzenberger s home and affecting his cistern, indicated he would have someone out to take care of this immediately. Mr. Litzenberger hasn t seen anyone yet and wanted to know the status on this. Mr. Hayssen will check into this matter with Jason McCormick and then contact Mr. Litzenberger. Varick Sewer District No. 2: Mrs. Sipos reported that the funds have been appropriately transferred to Seneca Lake Water District according to the auditor s reports. Highway: Mr. McCulloch received a quote from Ferrara Lumber to replace the overhead door in the garage with a 12 X14 TS125 Overhead insulated Door with windows at a cost of $1,811.95. It was also suggested that commercial weather striping for the bi-fold doors would be beneficial as well. Mr. Saeli suggested Mr. McCulloch he get a price from Peterman Lumber for the insulated door as well. A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Richard Peterson and so carried unanimously to authorize Mr. McCulloch at his discretion to replace or repair the overhead door with whatever he finds to be most economical and heat efficient. Weather stripping is to be placed on the three front doors. Mr. Hayssen will again contact Mike Stackus to look at the doors and eve trough which he installed as they are not working properly. The board discussed different methods of insulating the barn walls and Mr. Hayssen will get information to Mr. McCulloch for spray foam. Town Clerk s Report: A motion by Richard Peterson, seconded by Peter McDonald and so carried unanimously to approve the Town Clerk s Report: Supervisor: $68.23, County Treasurer: $7.05, Ag & Markets: 3.00 DEC: $4.72, Total Disbursement: $83.00 A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Richard Peterson and so carried unanimously to approve the minutes of December 29, 2010.
Supervisor s Report: A motion by Richard Peterson, seconded by Peter McDonald and so carried unanimously to accept the written Supervisor s report. Assessor s Report: A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried unanimously to approve the written Assessor s Report. Personnel Report: None. New Business, Old Business and Correspondence: A motion by Richard Peterson, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried unanimously to appoint Lawrence Colton and Eric Riegel to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire December 31, 2015. A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried unanimously to appoint Todd Horton to the Planning Board for a term to expire December 31, 2015. Mr. Sipos reviewed the legal information he received regarding entering into an agreement with South Seneca Ambulance. South Seneca, in response to the addendum sent to them by the Town of Varick, sent a new Emergency Ambulance Agreement faxed to the Town Clerk December 29 th. After review of this newly proposed agreement, it was determined that South Seneca Ambulance was not offering the town any additional services that would not be rendered without a contract in place. After further discussion, the board decided to send a letter to South Seneca Ambulance indicating they had no interest in entering into the newly submitted Emergency Ambulance Agreement and request that they sign and return the Addendum which was sent to them by this board and the town would then proceed with the original contract submitted the beginning of December. A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Richard Peterson and so carried to send a letter to South Seneca Ambulance notifying them of the Board s decision not to accept the Emergency Ambulance Agreement dated December 29, 2010 and ask that they sign and return the Addendum sent to them by this board so that the Town can proceed with the original Agreement submitted the beginning of December. John Saeli and Peter McDonald will serve on the auditing committee and Kathy Russo and Richard Peterson will serve as alternates to the auditing committee. A motion by John Saeli, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried unanimously to approve Abstract No. 1, Highway, Vouchers DA011-1 and DA011-2 in the amount of $6,495.00, Varick Sewer District No. 1, Vouchers VS11-001, $50.00, General, Vouchers A0011-001 to A0011-006 in the amount of $19,327.18, Varick Water District No. 1, Vouchers VW111-001 and VW111-002 in the amount of $112.22, Varick Sewer District No. 1 Vouchers SSS11-001 in the amount of $125.00, Seneca Lake Water, Vouchers, SWS11-001 to SWS11-003 in the amount of $710.33.
A motion by John Saeli, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried to approve the following payments for Water District No. 3: Syracuse Constructors, Inc. $10,990.28 A motion by Peter McDonald, seconded by Kathy Russo and so carried to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Donna Karlsen Varick Town Clerk